Kanye West: "I Would Do Anything to Protect" Kim Kardashian, Our Baby

Kanye West is not one to mince words, but when it comes to his love life, the usually frank -- sometimes to a fault -- rapper becomes tight-lipped and squirrely. Not so in a new interview published in The New York Times. While the bulk of the Q&A, headlined "Behind the Mask," is devoted to West waxing about his music (his new album Yeezus drops June 18) and his need to be recognized as a true artist, he also finally opens up about his love for Kim Kardashian, who is pregnant with his baby daughter.

"Any woman that you're in love with or that loves you is going to command a certain amount of, you know, energy. It's actually easier to focus, in some ways," the 36-year-old said, explaining why his relationship with Kardashian, 32, works. "I'm the type of rock star that likes to have a girlfriend, you know? I'm the type of soul that likes to be in love and likes to be able to focus. And that inspires me."

West also shared his thoughts about the controversial scene in Keeping Up With the Kardashians in which he helps his girlfriend revamp her wardrobe by sorting through her closet. Some critics thought he appeared overbearing. "That was from a place of love. It's hard when people read things in a lot of different ways. You know, the amount of backlash I got from it is when I decided not to be on the show anymore. And it's not that I have an issue with the show; I just have an issue with the amount of backlash that I get. Because I just see like, an amazing person that I'm in love with that I want to help."

As for his thoughts on parenthood, West replied, "One of the things was just to be protective, that I would do anything to protect my child or my child's mother." Beyond that, he says he hasn't "fully developed those thoughts yet. I don't have a kid yet."

"Well, I just don't want to talk to America about my family," he continued. "Like, this is my baby. This isn't America's baby."